Boy in mobility scooter asked to “prove disability”

Airline Jet2 are under fire after asking a 10-year old boy in a mobility scooter to “prove” his disability after an administrative error almost prevented him from boarding his flight, says his mother.

Alex Johnson told the BBC that she was “appalled” with the “humiliating” treatment that her son received from Jet2 staff at Split Airport in Croatia as they attempted to board a flight home to the UK on Tuesday.

Her son Jack, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was “mortified,” said his mother.

While the family had no issues going through Split Airport on the outbound flight, the staff at the airport claimed there was no record of his disability in their system and they required two days’ notice to put his scooter on the plane.

Jack’s mother was asked by staff: “Do you have proof that your son is disabled?” In “disbelief,” she showed the staff his Blue Badge.

It took the family almost two hours to return to their flight with Jack, who was “so embarrassed.”

“Jack doesn’t like any fuss or made to feel different,” Alex told the BBC.

After returning home, Jack had a “complete meltdown,” which Alex blames on the immense stress of their traumatic airport experience.

Alex said: “I want lessons to be learned and all staff to get training to ensure this never happens again to another disabled person.

“They should be treated with dignity.”

Jet2 have apologised for the family’s “distressing experience,” saying: “Although this is an isolated incident, we have learnt a number of lessons and are we are urgently reviewing all our procedures to ensure that this does not happen again.”